Desmond Bane Rumors

Jason Beede: FINAL: #Magic 130, Raptors 120 Orlando looked dead in the water trailing by 14 points before it outscored Toronto 44-21 in the fourth quarter. Desmond Bane (32 points), Anthony Black (25), Wendell Carter Jr. (23) and Paolo Banchero (20) combine for 100 on ESPN.

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Jason Beede: “It’s just about building,” #Magic guard Desmond Bane said earlier when I asked what Orlando talks about to take what worked at Miami into future games. “And embracing what it is we want to accomplish on both ends of the floor. … We’re trending in the right direction.”

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What would it take to get the Pelicans to relent on their off-cited resistance to trading either Trey Murphy III or Herb Jones? I've heard this one from multiple teams lately: They would want a Desmond Bane-type offer.

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Glushon Sports Management: We are extremely excited to welcome @DBane0625 to the GSM Family! ????

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Bane is officially listed as American by the NBA but has Nigerian heritage and is yet to represent any nation on the international stage. Having qualified for their first Olympics at London 2012, Nigeria's basketball team went on to also compete at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, but missed out on the 2024 Games in Paris. "I would for sure," said the shooting guard when asked about the possibility of answering the call if it came. "We just need to get all the Nigerians together for the Olympics coming up in the next couple years and make something happen."

AOL

In the wake of the Grizzlies trading Desmond Bane to Orlando in a June deal that landed them four first-round picks and a first-round swap (in addition to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony), league sources say Kleiman indicated that — if he ever were going to trade Morant — it would require serious draft capital in return. And considering the Bane context, one can imagine how that framing was received by rival teams.

New York Times

Grind City Media: "I wanted to go back to Memphis." Desmond Bane on seeing the schedule had him facing the Grizzlies in Europe. 🎥: @MyMikeCheck

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“You wrap your arms around anybody that’s got that type of spotlight or anything like that going on with him,” Bane said. “Ja just wants to play basketball and be in a place where he feels valued. And, hopefully, if it doesn’t happen in Memphis, he gets that, you wherever his next stop is.” “It never gets easier,” Jackson said. “Anytime there’s a move. It’s not like you’re … bracing yourself for anything, but anytime something happens just like when you’re around your family and something happens you feel that. We’re people, we’re brothers, we understand that this is a business, but at the same time it sucks.”

New York Times

Let’s start by talking about Jones, a player who so obviously would help the Lakers that it makes sense that they’ve checked on his availability. Guess what? So have a bunch of other teams. And whether it’s posturing or genuine, the Pelicans have shown no interest in trading Jones for anything less than a Desmond Bane-level haul. I tend to think this isn’t posturing — New Orleans’ new front office signed Jones to his extension — and why would they want to limit any trade pool to a group of buyers handcuffed by aprons and draft pick limitations? That stuff only opens up more options for New Orleans in the summer (when the Lakers, say, could trade multiple draft picks for Jones if they really want him). The Thunder would add an interesting wrinkle to this deal. Sources tell me that teams expect Oklahoma City to be looking for deals like this to get future value for some of their 2026 draft assets (they’ve got up to four picks in the first round).

New York Times

Jason Beede: At the event, I asked #Magic guard Desmond Bane about the return of Moe Wagner, even though he hasn’t played with him before: “Everybody’s told me about the energy and the swag that he plays with and brings,” Bane said. “So, I can’t wait to share the court with him.”

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My sense is that the Grizzlies understand that they’re not going to be able bring back anything close to what they banked from Orlando — four first first-round picks plus an additional swap — in exchange for Desmond Bane in June. Morant's troubling injury history, on top of past off-court missteps, will dull many teams' interest or limit what they're willing to spend in a theoretical Morant deal. The result of all that? “There's not really an obvious spot for him,” one Western Conference strategist told me.

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Michael Scotto: I discussed the possibility of the Memphis Grizzlies trading Ja Morant Wednesday with @TheFrankIsola and @Scalabrine on @SiriusXMNBA . After getting four firsts in the Desmond Bane trade, would they sell low? NBA execs have monitored Ja and if Jaren Jackson Jr would be available.

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Jason Beede: “When the ball moves, everybody eats, #Magic guard Desmond Bane said. “That’s something we’re going to have to continue to do if we want to be a good offensive team.”

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Dan Savage: Final: Magic 135, Pacers 127 Desmond Bane had 31 points, Paolo Banchero notched 28 points & 12 rebounds and Anthony Black tallied 27 points & 10 assists. @OrlandoMagic are 13-3 this season when they score at least 120 points. It's Orlando's first win this season on a Sunday.

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